Our Guest Speakers: The new 31.5 metre-high wind turbine which stands just outside Hockerton (pop. 140) is believed to be the first community-owned and developed renewable energy scheme in Nottinghamshire. Villagers bought the turbine, obtained planning permission for it and literally dug the hole for its foundations. Electricity generated by the turbine is being sold to the grid, generating an income for the village which will be used to pay for various community benefits. Tonight’s event will feature a presentation by Hockerton villagers about the various obstacles they had to overcome to turn their turbine dream into a reality. These included finance, planning and technical aspects of its operation. The event is intended to provide inspiration and practical aid to anybody who is thinking of installing their own domestic or community renewable energy scheme. With attractive financial incentives now being offered by Feed-in Tariffs, interest in such schemes – solar, wind, hydro and anaerobic digestion – is expected to soar. We are also hoping that the Department of Energy and Climate Change will be making some contribution to the event.
The Climate Change Seminars: These seminars are linked by an assumption: that science and scientists are playing a positive role by producing solutions to help mitigate the impact of climate change. Carbon capture and sequestration, new technologies to harness solar, wind and wave power; more energy efficient homes and cars – all these part-solutions, and many more, are fundamentally the products of scientific research and analysis (although allied to innovative engineering and in some cases politically led).
The seminar series are being held quarterly and are designed to promote debate and discussion about these important issues while also encouraging networking among individuals drawn from science, business, academia and other interested communities.
The Venue: No.1 Nottingham Science Park is one of the newest business locations in Nottingham and is helping the city realise its aspiration to become one of the UK’s premier locations for science and technology enterprise. Built by developers Blueprint, it incorporates low energy design, a brown roof, a biomass boiler and a public access lilypad walk featuring sustainable drainage and linked to a nature reserve.
Details: a light finger buffet and drinks will be available; networking is encouraged.
Registration: This event is FREE, however prior registration is essential. Please register by calling or e-mailing Vanessa Corns at or by calling (0115) 934 9582 no later than 12.00 noon on Thursday 27th May 2010.
How to get there: An Ordnance Survey map can be seen at
http://getamap.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/getamap/frames.htm?mapAction=gaz&gazName=pc&gazString=NG7%202RU
Parking is available at the venue. If travelling by bus, services 13 and 14 – city centre to Chilwell – both stop near to the science park and can be caught at Beastmarket Hill or Castle Boulevard. The last return bus arrives in the city centre at 23.03. Alternatively you can find bus travel details at http://www.triptimes.co.uk/ or at http://www.nctx.co.uk/times/index.asp